What Is The Lonsdale Belt? Hedges vs Brown Puts It In Play on Saturday

What to Know

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• Undefeated cruiserweights John Hedges and Pat Brown fight on Saturday, Sept. 19, for the vacant British and Commonwealth championships, along with the WBA/IBF International belts, in the main event at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England.
• The DAZN broadcast starts at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
• The prestigious Lonsdale Belt is also at stake. What is the Lonsdale Belt and why is it so prestigious?

With a light boxing schedule ahead around the world, American fans may want to put Saturday’s card from Manchester, England, on their calendar, featuring a domestic cruiserweight title fight with a great deal at stake for the winner’s future.

John Hedges and Pat Brown put their unbeaten records on the line for the British and Commonwealth titles and the Lonsdale Belt on Saturday. Photo: Matchroom Boxing

Swiftly rising star Pat Brown (6-0, 6 KOs), a member of Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics, takes on John Hedges of Essex (12-0, 3 KOs). The winner will be on the fast track toward a world title in the highly competitive cruiserweight division.

Hedges, age 24, is nominally the “A-side” but not the favorite against the hard-hitting 26-year old Brown known as “The Bomber” fighting at home in Manchester. He claims he doesn’t mind.

“I know I’m definitely the B-side. But I kind of like that. There’s no pressure,” said Hedges despite having the Lonsdale on the line.

Brown says he’s ready for an old school shootout and he’s locked and loaded. “I want to be in good fights to see what I’m about. I understand people get excited and they want to fast-track me. But I need to learn about being in deep waters.”

Brown spoke for both fighters when he talked about the biggest prize in UK boxing available to the winner.

“This is the biggest fight of my career so far … The Lonsdale belt is so prestigious, every British boxer wants to take it home and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing on the night,” said Brown.

“It’s more than a British Title if I’m honest with you,” said Hedges. “When you get in there, we’ve seen it time and time again, it’s a lot of pressure put on your shoulders. Ultimately, we’re only human. We’ve all got two arms and two legs; you can only go out there and do your best.”

Hedges vs Brown News Conference Thursday

What Is The Lonsdale Belt?

American boxing fans might not be familiar with the Lonsdale Belt and its prestigious history. It’s unlike any other title in boxing. Hedges vs Brown gives us the ideal opportunity to introduce it and add to your enjoyment of the fight while getting a better feel for the stakes involved.

The Lonsdale Belt is the oldest and most prestigious prize in British professional boxing, governed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC). It is awarded to one fighter per division exclusively for the British championship. Often, the Commonwealth belt is also on the line on Saturday, but it is a distinct belt.

The belt’s history and its craftsmanship, along with the strict rules for earning one, make it a much coveted prize. Often, British boxers consider it a greater accomplishment than a world title.

It is called the Lonsdale Belt after its originator: Hugh Lowther, the Fifth Earl of Lonsdale. He introduced the award in 1909 when the sport of boxing had few rules and was so ungoverned it was on the brink of being banned. The belt and its requirements helped bring order to UK boxing. The BBBofC took over responsibility for awarding the Lonsdale Belt in 1929.

Since 1909, only 161 boxers have won a Lonsdale Belt outright across all weights. In 2013, the BBBofC introduced the Lonsdale Badge to further acknowledge the esteem held for outright winners, who are entitled to display this badge on their boxing trunks.

Lauren Price became the first woman to win the Lonsdale Belt in 2023. Photo: WBC

Henry Cooper, Lennox Lewis, Barry McGuigan, and Joe Calzaghe are among the previous Lonsdale Belt winners. In 2023, Welsh boxer Lauren Price became the first woman professional to win the Lonsdale Belt. Current Lonsdale Belt holders include Dalton Smith, Richard Riakporhe, and George Liddard.

How the Lonsdale Belt Works

The Lonsdale Belt isn’t a one-and-done title like the world championship titles issued by the major sanctioning organizations.

When a boxer wins the British title, he or she keeps the Lonsdale Belt for as long as they remain champion, but must meet specific requirements to keep it on their record permanently. If the fighter loses or vacates the title before meeting the requirements to keep it, he or she must return the belt to the BBBofC.

Under the current rules established in 1999, an individual must win four British championship fights in the same division to own the Lonsdale Belt permanently. One must be a mandatory defense ordered by the BBBofC. This prevents the belt holder from cherry-picking challengers. (Prior to 1999, only three victories were required). The fighter must make his or her first defense within six months of it being awarded.

Once the fighter has successfully defended the belt four times, he or she is considered the permanent Lonsdale Belt holder. Because the belt can’t be easily achieved, owning one proves a fighter truly dominated his or her division within British domestic boxing.

As befits the prestige of the Lonsdale Belt, the original version was made of 22-carat gold and decorated with enamel panels showing the flower of the four home nations. It is considered one of the most beautiful and ornate trophies in all of sports.

Today, the BBBofC commissions Lonsdale Belts from the company Thomas Fattorini Ltd. It costs 14-thousand pounds to make one ($18,698 US dollars). The belts are made with hallmarked sterling silver, gold plating, enamel portraits, and a traditional red, white, and blue silk ribbon.

Big Stakes On the Line for Hedges and Brown

“Yeah, it’s obviously massive,” said Brown of his opportunity. “I’ve had fights in stadiums, I’ve been in the AO (Arena) before. I’ve been here. I’ve visualized it. I know the long walk-outs. I know the big changing rooms. I’m not really letting it get to my head to be honest with you.

It’s brilliant, obviously. It’s what you dream of, isn’t it? All I know is the fight game. All this stuff is brilliant, but all I’m focusing on is Saturday night, and I can’t wait now. It’s nearly here.”

“I think both these guys deserve all the respect,” said Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith. “Boxing is the most fickle sport in the world.

“I’m not a boxing expert; I always profess that I’m not a boxing expert. I like putting on shows. I love the events around it. The reality is one of these fighters is going to win, and one is going to lose.

“But both of these men deserve a huge amount of respect for stepping in there and taking a challenge. How long have we seen in this sport of boxing fighters go through their careers taking easy fights, getting to 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 0, but never getting anywhere?

“We’ve had some amazing nights in Manchester over the years, and I believe Saturday night is going to deliver another one of those,” promised Smith.

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